Deadly fires prompt concern about furnace safety

A house explosion in Indianapolis is prompting New Hampshire officials to remind residents about proper home heating safety.

Indiana officials said the house explosion killed two people and destroyed homes.

In Maine, investigators said cardboard boxes stored too close to a wood stove caused a fire that killed a father and three children.

On the heels of those two terrible incidents, the region is entering the cooler months of the year and residents are reaching for the thermostat.

New Hampshire State Fire Marshal Bill Degnan said people should make sure they keep combustible items far from their heating devices.

"Whether it's a wood stove, a gas stove, an oil furnace, a gas furnace -- any one of those devices -- keep a good space clear around them. Try to practice at least a minimum of three feet of clear space with no combustibles," Degnan said.

Officials in Indiana said for a natural gas furnace to produce such a huge explosion, numerous safety features would have to fail and investigators said they haven't ruled anything out, including criminal activity.

But without regular maintenance, Degnan said any furnace can pose a danger.

"All too often we see that furnaces are not maintained properly. When they're not maintained, you don't catch the safety devices that may not be working. Like in New Hampshire, we require licensed gas fitters, so if a person comes to your home to work on a gas furnace or a gas appliance, they need to have a license," Degnan said.

The fire marshal said another common mistake his team sees is people stacking their firewood too close to their wood stove.

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